In response to today’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), Professor Ruth Farwell, Vice Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University and Chair of GuildHE said:

“There are some unexpected pieces of good news in today’s Spending Review. The protection of science and research funding as a flat cash settlement to 2014-15 is to be welcomed as are smaller but important announcements on the Higher Education Innovation Fund and the introduction of a new National Scholarship Fund of £150 million by 2014-15. Other announcements such as the increases in the Regional Growth Fund and Adult Apprenticeships and the establishment of the Green Investment Bank all provide welcome opportunities for higher education to play its part in improving skills and driving economic growth.

“But the announcement of reduced public funding for teaching in higher education – dropping by £2.9 billion by 2014-15 – shows that Lord Browne’s proposals for reforming the way that higher education is financed have now been accepted by the Government. There will be little room for manoeuvre. Higher education institutions must accept Browne’s proposals for increased tuition fees or face a dramatic drop in their income from 2012 onwards.”
 

For more information and comment, please contact:

Andy Westwood
Tel: 020 7387 7711
Mobile: 07970 007142
Email: andy.westwood@guildhe.ac.uk

Notes to editors

1. GuildHE sent an open letter to ministers earlier today warning against rushing through higher education cuts and funding reforms.
2. GuildHE is a recognised higher education representative body. Its 32 members are among the most dynamic and fastest-growing institutions in the sector. For a list of GuildHE institutions, please visit: https://www.guildhe.ac.uk/en/members-list/index.cfm